Movable scaffold



June 30, 1942. R. G. LE TOURNEAU MOVABLE SGAFFOLD Original Filed Sept. 16, 1940 IN VEN TOR. I k'lelurneau A TTORNEYA Patented June 30, 1942 MOVABLE soAFFoLn Robert G. Le Tourneau, Peoria, 111., assignor to R. G. Le Tourneau, Inc, a corporation Original application September 16, 1940, Serial No. 356,939. Divided and this application April 10, 1942, Serial No. 438,373

Claims.

This invention relates in general to a movable scaffold, and in particular the invention is directed to, and it is my principal object to provide, a movable scaffold designed for use in connection with the erection of dome structures.

The present application is a division of application Serial No. 356,939 on Building structure, filed September 16, 1940, which has matured as Patent No. 2,281,981, issued May 5, 1942.

A further object of this invention is to employ a novel form of movabl inside scaffold or sweep designed not only to facilitate erection of dome structures constructed of prefabricated metal panel sections, but also to assure proper positioning and alinement of said prefabricated sections as the same are brought into place and secured together, as by welding at the seams.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a scaffold of the type described which is arranged so that it may be dismantled for removal from the structure when the latter is completed.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawing simfiilar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the movable scaffold as in use.

Figure 2' is a fragmentary section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawing, the movable scaffold is initially assembled within the area to be encompassed by the completed dome structure indicated generally at I, and which includes, as described in detail in the aforesaid application, a

plurality of circumferential rows or courses of I prefabricated metal building panels 2.

The interior and movable scaffold or sweep comprises a central vertical member or post 3 turnably mounted at its lower end in a supporting base 4 disposed centrally of the dome area. A truss-type scaffold assembly indicated at 5 diates from post 3 in opposite directions in clearance relation to the floor and terminates at its outer ends short of but adjacent the sidewall 6 of the dome structure. The upper edge of this scaffold assembly 5 comprises beams 1 arranged generally symmetrical to the inner surface of the dome l, and said edge is disposed in a plane relatively close to but somewhat inwardly of the plane of said inner surface.

Panel section supporting jacks 8 are detachably mounted on and project upwardly from scaffold beams 'l in spaced relation longitudinally of the latter; these jacks being detachably mounted on said beams by suitable means, such as bolt-attached, U-shaped hangers or yokes 9.

Each panel section 2 used during the erection of a given course in the dome I, is swung into approximate position by a crane (not shown), and is then exactly located by jacks 8. In order that a workman may manipulate or adjust the jacks, as well as weld the interior seams of adjacent prefabricated panel sections 2, a workmans platform I0 is suspended by cables H from a pair of crossbars l2 attached to the scaffold beams l at longitudinally spaced points. These crossbars I2 are detachably secured to beams 1 by suitable means such as a clamp arrangement [3.

As is obvious, not only will the scaffold be swung about its axis as each course of the dome is being erected, but the jacks 8, and crossbars l2 together with the suspended workmans platform 10, will be moved up the scaffold beams I, as each course is completed, to a higher position so that work on the next uppermost course may begin.

The parts of the scaffold are all detachably bolted together, so that said scaffold may be dismantled and withdrawn from the dome structure through a door or the like when the dome is finished.

Since the scaffold extends in opposite directions from the central post, the dome erecting operations may be carried on simultaneously at diametrally opposed points.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

post and mounted in connection therewith for rotation about the axis of said post, said scaffold portion having an upper edge portion generally symmetrical to the configuration of the dome and disposed in a plane adjacent but spaced from the intended plane of the inner surface of the dome, and a workmans platform carried by said scaffold adjacent said upper edge portion, said platform being adjustable for position lengthwise of the scaffold.

2. An interior scaffold for construction of domes, said scaffold including a central post, means supporting the post at its lower end, a scaffold portion projecting radially from said post and mounted in connection therewith for rotation about the axis of said post, said scaffold portion having an upper edge portion generally symmetrical to the configuration of the dome and disposed in a plane adjacent but spaced from the intended plane of the inner surface of the dome, and a plurality of structure supporting jacks mounted on and projecting upwardly from said upper edge portion of the scaffold in spaced relation lengthwise of the latter and adjustable for position therealong.

3. An interior scaffold for construction of domes, said scaffold including a central post,

means supporting the post at its lower end, a scaffold portion projecting radially from said post and mounted in connection therewith for rotation about the axis of said post, said scaffold portion having an upper edge portion generally symmetrical to the configuration of the dome and disposed in a plane adjacent but spaced from the intended plane of the inner surface of the dome, a plurality of structure supporting jacks mounted on and projecting upwardly from said upper edge portion of the scaffold in spaced relation lengthwise of the latter, and a workmans platform carried by said scaffold adjacent said upper edge portion, said jacks and platform being adjustable for position therealong.

4. A scaffold as in claim 1 in which said upper edge portion comprises top beams; a pair of cross beams intersecting said top beams at longitudinally spaced points and being detachably secured thereto, and cables depending from the ends of said cross beams, said cables being secured to and supporting the workmans platform.

5. A scaffold as in claim 2 in which said upper edge portion comprises top beams; said jacks being adjustably secured to said beams by means of releasable clamping yokes.

ROBERT G. LE TOURNEAU. 

